Women group demands inclusiveness, urgent reforms in C’River 

From Ene Asuquo, Calabar 

The National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) has called for accelerated action towards gender equality, urging authorities to step up efforts in reducing poverty, illiteracy, and gender-based violence against women.

The women group made the call yesterday during a press briefing held at the NUJ Press Centre in Calabar, Cross River State.

Speaking at the briefing, the NCWS President, Mrs. Majority Asuqwo, emphasized the need to fast-track initiatives that address women’s education, health, and economic empowerment, aligning with this year’s International Women’s Month theme: “Accelerate Action.”

Reflecting on the progress since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action of 1995, Mrs. Asuqwo noted that despite ongoing efforts, most women still grapple with poverty, poor healthcare, and lack of representation in decision making spaces. 

She stressed that achieving full gender equality, projected to take 135 years, requires immediate and sustained action.

Former NCWS President, Grace Ekanem, stressed the importance of education for the girl child, warning that denying girls education is akin to robbing future generations of progress.

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“When you deny a girl child education, you deny an entire generation. An educated woman contributes to her family and society . Look at the likes of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and others breaking glass ceilings globally,” Reverend Ekanem said.

She also called for inclusiveness in leadership, highlighting the imbalance in appointments where, “out of 10 positions, only one goes to a woman.”

The Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State, Archibong Bassey, echoed the call for solidarity among women, urging them to lift each other up.

“We must support one another. When a sister stumbles, let’s help her rise. Our strength lies in unity,” Bassey added.

According to her, there is an urgent need for both government intervention and collective societal efforts to bridge the gender gap and create a more inclusive world for women and girls.